Toyota Verso review

Our Rating:

4.0/5.0

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2009 model

By Auto Express Test TeamComments

The Toyota Verso is a rival to the Renault Grand Scenic, offering low running costs and decent value for money

For:

Flexible seating system, class-leading running costs, good residuals

Against:

Not as roomy as rivals, third row of seats are cramped, bland interior

More on this model

The Toyota Verso is to all intents and purposes an extremely capable car. Toyota gave it a facelift towards the end of 2012 to help it compete with big-selling rivals like the Renault Grand Scenic and Ford Grand C-MAX. The changes follow the new 'Keen Look' design language introduced by the Auris, which included a sleek new grille and LED headlights. The suspension, steering and engines have also been revised, while the line-up now offers more equipment for less money. There's a choice of two petrols and a diesel which offers best-in-class fuel consumption with figures of 57.6mpg and 129g/km of CO2. Strong residuals across the range and low company car tax make the Verso an attractive choice for fleet buyers, as well as growing families.

Our choice: Verso Icon 2.0 D-4D

Styling

The Toyota Verso was facelifted towards the end of 2012 with Toyota’s ‘Keen Look’ design language that debuted on the new Auris. The uninspiring grille and headlights of the old car were replaced by an all-new front-end design, with LED headlamps, a new grille and front bumper. The only changes from the side are the smaller, more aerodynamic mirrors that help to improve fuel economy, while at the rear there’s a new bumper. The interior hasn't changed much, though, which is disappointing. Soft-touch finishes give a higher-quality feel but some parts still feel cheap, especially the flimsy door handles. Next to a Ford Grand C-MAX, the Verso looks rather low-rent. However, the switchgear is sturdy and should stand up to the rough and tumble of family life.

Driving

You wouldn’t expect a spacious MPV to deliver a particularly entertaining drive, but the Verso is surprisingly good from behind the wheel. The diesel is the pick of the range for overall drivability, thanks to its smooth power delivery, but the 1.8-litre petrol engine is more flexible and responsive. The 1.6-litre isn’t as potent but doesn't feel too underpowered, either. By making the Verso stiffer than its predecessor, Toyota has struck a better balance between comfort and dynamic ability. It feels much more agile in corners, while extra sound deadening between the engine bay and cabin helps to keep road noise to a minimum. The pre-facelifted car was criticised for its ultra-light steering, which did little to inspire confidence, so it's now been sharpened up for more immediate response. The Verso is still no match for the C-MAX dynamically, but it is more predictable and easy to drive. Plus, the high driving position and good visibility are big plus points.

Reliability

Toyota performs consistently well in the Driver Power reliability survey and it finished an impressive fifth overall in the 2012 results. The Verso shares its engine range with the Auris, which means they've all been tried and tested for many years. Plus, every Toyota comes with a five-year warranty, which should cover you in the event that anything goes wrong. The pre-facelift car received a full five-star crash test rating from Euro NCAP when it was first tested in 2010, with a score of 89 per cent for adult occupant protection and 86 per cent for safety assist. This puts it on a par with newer rivals like the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer. Electronic stability control and ABS are fitted as standard, along with driver, passenger and curtain airbags.

Practicality

The entry-level Verso Active model is available with a choice of five or seven seats, but all other versions come with seven seats as standard. Thanks to Toyota’s Easy Flat system, there are a total of 32 configurations possible. The second row of three individual seats is built to slide back and forwards, allowing for a larger boot or more legroom, while the rearmost pair of seats can be lowered with a pull of a lever and fold flat into the floor. This means that there's 155 litres with all seven seats in place, 440 litres with the two rearmost seats folded and a total of 1,696 litres. Space is down on the Renault Grand Scenic, and the wheelarches intrude into the boot space, but the seats fold easily and leave a completely flat floor. While the Verso’s third row seats are only suitable for children, the legroom in the second row is much better. There’s plenty of storage up front, too, with a pair of gloveboxes and a large centre console bin.

Running Costs

The most efficient Verso is the 2.0-litre diesel, which can return average fuel consumption of 57.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 129g/km. That’s better than the 1.7-litre diesel Vauxhall Zafira and the 2.0-litre Ford C-MAX, which both return 55mpg. The two petrol Verso models are also ahead of their rivals, with the 1.6-litre managing 42.8mpg and 154/km of CO2. This stacks up well against the 1.4-litre VW Touran’s 41.5mpg and 159g/km and the Vauxhall Zafira with 42.2mpg and 157g/km. Also in the Verso’s favour is its best-in-class company car tax figures. Buyers can also choose the Toyota Access system, which offers a guaranteed buyback price and fixed-price servicing deals.